Ducks' Getzlaf named finalist for NHL's MVP

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 02: Ryan Getzlaf #15 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Edmonton Oilers at Honda Center on April 2, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) Staff

Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf was selected on Thursday as one of three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's most valuable player.

Getzlaf is joined by Pittsburgh center Sidney Crosby and Philadelphia center Claude Giroux. The award, which is voted upon by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers' Assn., will be handed out June 24 in Las Vegas.

It is the first time Getzlaf, 28, has been selected as a Hart finalist. Getzlaf had a career-high 31 goals for the Ducks this season and his 87 points were second behind Crosby's league's best 104 for the Penguins.

"The way our team competed this year, it was the goal at the end of the year that I could possibly be part of that group," Getzlaf said. "With the succeess our team has had, it's a real honor for me."

Earlier in the week, Getzlaf talked about being in the Hart conversation. "One of the greatest leagues in the world and you're talking about being measured up against some of the best players in the world," he said.

Getzlaf led the Ducks to the Western Conference's best regular-season record for the first time in franchise history. Crosby, who had 36 goals and topped 100 points for the fifth time, won his only MVP award in 2007 and was a finalist in 2010 and 2013.

After a slow start, Giroux roared back to finish third in the NHL scoring race with 86 points in leading the Flyers into the postseason. Giroux tied a career high with 28 goals and had 79 of his points in his final 67 contests.

Known more as a playmaker than a big goal scorer, Getzlaf finished among the top 15 in the NHL in that category as he showed a greater willingness to shoot the puck. His 203 shots on goal are second only to the 227 he had in 2008-09.

Getzlaf said the Ducks' deep lineup played a big role, helping take pressure off him and linemate Corey Perry.

"Pucks went in the net," Getzlaf said. "The other goalies were nice to me this year. I don't know. It's one of those years. Our team success and the way the guys played around us enabled our line, I think, to get a little more free.

"Teams couldn’t focus in so much on just playing against us. And then this year, me and Pears worked well together this year and our left wingers have been great all season. It's been a great year."

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